Automatic clothes cleansing apparatus



Feb. 28, 1950 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL AUTOMATIC CLOTHES .cusmsmc APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1944 9 2 2 3 3 1%.! a w a 3 2 2 Wm Q .4 4 2 r I I x \Y m Var: :2 E

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. E. GELDHOF EiAL AUTOMATIC CLOTHES cumnsmc APPARATUS Feb. 28, 1950 Filed Feb. 21, 1944 I1? E: Z :2 S per-5e 50480 Gaga/rob. Lyn/:2 Emma-e.

Feb. 28, 1950 P. GELDHOF Er 2,498,885

AUTOMATIC CLOTHES CLEANSING APPARATUS Fild Feb. 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l i o Prrze 51/420 6220110 Lur/n'e BIA/ate.

Patented Feb. 28, 1950' AUTOMATIC CLOTHES CLEANSING APPARATUS Peter Eduard Geldhoi' and Luther Ringer, st. Joseph, Mich., assignors to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1944, Serial No. 523,238

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an automatic cleansing apparatus or the like with which are associated storage facilities for the temporary storing of the cleansing fluid between certain stages in the operating cycle of the cleansing apparatus.

More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an automatic, washing, rinsing and drying machine having in combination therewith suitable storage facilities for the temporary handling of the water to store and reheat the water supply pending the completion of additional operating steps in the cycle of operations of the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine.

The present invention is particularly advantageously adapted to use in connection with laundering operations in which the articles to be laundered are subjected to a washing operation in an automatic washing, rising and drying apparatus in which heated water is employed containing soap and other suitable detergents for the furtherance of the laundering operation. It is highly desirable to save the prepared soapy water for the performance of other laundering operations while the additional steps of rinsing and drying the first batch of laundered articles are taking place.

It is also desirable in such operations to raise the temperature of the soapy water while it is being stored in order that more eifective laundering of the subsequent batches of articles to be laundered will be assured. Inasmuch as the laundering apparatus performs a series of operations in accordance with a predetermined operating cycle, it is highly advantageous to have whatever storage facilities are employed to augment the laundering apparatus closely related to and regulated by the control mechanism employed in the operation of the laundering apparatus.

While the apparatus of the present invention is capable of employment in a wide variety of fluid handling operations, it is particularly well adapted to use with an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine and will, therefore, for the sake of clarity but in no sense of limitation, be described in its adaptation to such equipment. As.

is customary in the use of such equipment, a complete cycle of operations is performed on a single batch of articles to be laundered including washing, rinsing and drying steps before any subsequent batches of laundry are introduced tothe apparatus. The rinsing operations, of which there are ordinarily several, usually employ only clear water of relatively low or medium temperature and, therefore, may be discharged to the drain in order that a fresh water supply may be employed for each of these operations.

In the case of the washing step, however, an abundance of water of relatively high temperature having large quantities of soap and other suitable cleansing agents therein is required. In the interest of saving both hot water and soap, it is, therefore, particularly advantageous to remove the soapy water from the container of the automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine following the washing step and temporarily storing it until the remaining steps in the cycle of operations all of which are performed in or with the aid of the container of the machine are completed. The soapy water employed in the first washing step may again be introduced to the container for re-use upon the completion of the remaining steps in the laundering operation.

Such a procedure as that outlined makes possible a considerable saving in the hot water supply and also in the quantity of detergents required to complete the laundering operations. This saving of the hot water supply is particularly important under conditions where water is scarce or where the heating system is incapable of producing a continuous supply of water at temperatures sufliciently high to perform the several washing steps for numerous batches of laundry.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means capable of producing the aforementioned advantageous results and, in so doing, to facilitate the use of the automatic washing, rinsing and drying apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fully automatic cleansing apparatus with which is associated a suitable fluid reservoir for temporarily storing the cleansing fluid employed in the apparatus between certain stages in the operating cycle thereof.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a suitable fluid storage means which is capable of being connected into the control mechanism for operation in conjunction with the apparatus employing the fluid to facilitate the automatic operation of the unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a suitable fluid storage means comprising a fluid reservoir having heating means or the like therein for changing the temperature of the fluid during the period of its storage in the reservoir and means for controlling the level of the fluid in said reservoir as well as the operation of the heating means.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid operated control means for a fluid reservoir to control the level of the fluid in the reservoir and to actuate certain other elements of the apparatus associated with the fluid reservoir such, for example, as heating means and the like.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a complete control unit for operating an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine together with the temporary storage means associated therewith for handling the storage of the cleansing fluid from the machine pending the completion of certain of the steps in the cycle of operation of the machine.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of a typical form of automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine with which is associated a fluid storage means to provide a combination embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 represents an elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 with parts removed and in section for the purpose of illustrating the cooperative relationship of the several elements comprising the apparatus of the invention;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the fluid storage means with parts broken away and in elevation to illustrate one form of fluid storage apparatus of the type to which the present invention relates;

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional elevation through the reservoir of the fluid storage means of Figures 3 and 4 illustrating one form of fluid operated control means which is adapted to use in controlling the maximum fluid level in the reservoir of the storage means and the operation of the temperature changing apparatus thereof; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a typical electrical circuit for controlling the operation of an automatic washing machine embodying the fluid storage means according to the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a typical form of automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine is designated by the reference character l0 and is highly advantageous in illustrating the application of the principles of the present invention. The washing machine [0 is provided with a cabinet II which includes a top panel l2 in which is disposed a cover I3 for facilitating the introduction of the articles to be laundered to the interior of the machine.

A control knob I4 for the purpose of setting or adjusting a suitable timing mechanism which directs the operation of the washing machine in the performance of the complete cycle of its operations is disposed adjacent one corner of the top panel l2 of the apparatus. The timer unit itself (not shown) is mounted in the cabinet II directly under the top panel l2. A second con- The automatic washing machine In embodies a container or tub 41 (Figure 2) for the reception of the cleansing fluid from the aforementioned mixer valve unit which is adapted to provide water of a predetermined temperature from suitable supply sources of hot and cold water depending upon the setting of the control knob IS in the top panel I2 of the cabinet H by the operator at the beginning of operations. A motor l8 mounted in the cabinet ll of the washing machine l0 actuates a reciprocating agitator and a rotatable perforated drying basket (not shown) both of which are mounted in the tub l1 through a transmission l9 and any suitable driving connection with which is associated a plurality of automatically operated shifter mechanisms (not shown).

The motor l8 also actuates a pump 20 the intake side of which is connected as by means of the hose connection 22 to a sump 2! formed in the base of the tub H. A hose connection 23 connects the outlet side of the pump to a suitable valve means 24 for handling the water discharged from the tub H. The valve 24 advantageously takes the form of a two-way valve unit of the type described and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 513,138, entitled Drain mechanism, flied December 6, 1943, now issued as Patent No. 2,414,196. The valve 24 is adapted to be automatically operated to direct the water discharged from the tub I! by the pump 20 to a suitable storage means 25 through the hose connection 26 which is provided with a goose-neck 21 extending into the interior of the storage means or to a suitable drain (not shown) through the hose connection 28.

The storage means 25 has a cabinet 29 which serves to completely enclose the apparatus and is supported from the floor as by means of a plurality of adjustable feet 30. The cabinet 29 of the storage means 25 is provided with a top panel 3| in which is disposed a cover 32 which affords access to the interior of the storage means 25.

. A fluid reservoir 33 is supported within the cabinet 29 as by means of the cross member 34.

One wall of the cabinet 29 has an opening 35 therein fitted with a removable panel portion 36 which is apertured to receive and support the goose-neck 21 of the hose connection 26 extending through an aperture 31 into the fluid reservoir 33 of'the storage means 25. The base of the fluid reservoir 33 is advantageously sloped in all directions toward a drain outlet 38 therein which registers with an aperture in the cross member 34 and is provided with a suitable screen 39 to prevent foreign matter from entering the connection 40 to which the pump 4| is attached for support from the cross member 34. The pump 4| which is driven as by means of a motor 42 is adapted to withdraw the water from the reser voir 33 of the storage means 25 and discharge the same through the hose connection 43 into the container ll of the automatic washing machine It through a suitable connection 44 to which said hose 43 is attached.

A suitable fluid control mechanism 46 (see Figure 5) is secured to one wall of the fluid reservoir 33 and is adapted to determine the maximum level of fluid in the reservoir 33 as well a to operate the heating element 41 for reheating the water supply when the water level in the reservoir has risen to the desired point. The fluid control mechanism 46 includes an arm 48 which extends through an aperture 49 in one wall of the fluid reservoir 88 and is pivoted thereon as at the support 58. On one end of the arm 48 is secured a ball float The end of the arm 48 opposite the float 5| projects through a flexible member or boot 52 which is held in place on the external wall of the fiuid reservoir 83 as by means of a ring 53 and cooperating seals so as to close off the aperture 48 through which the arm 48 extends. The end of the arm 48 projecting through the boot 52 is threaded and is adapted to receive a plurality of nuts 54 which cooperate with suitable washers and sealing means to make a tight joint with the boot 52 at the point where the arm 48 extends therethrough. A bracket 55 is mounted upon the threaded end of the arm 48 in any suitable fashion and is connected as by means of a link 55 with the arm 51 of a toggle switch 58 secured as by means of a bracket 59 to the outer wall of the fluid reservoir 33 at a point substantially directly below the aperture 48 therein.

A suitable multiple wire cable 80 extends through a grommeted aperture in the wall of the cabinet 29 of the storage means 25 to provide the necessary electrical connections for the heating element 41, the toggle switch 58, and the motor 42. The other end of the cable 58 is provided with a conventional plug or male fitting (not shown) which is adapted to be plugged into a corresponding female receptacle on the cabinet II of the automatic washing machine III in order that the operating and control circuits for the washing machine and for the storage means 25 will be satisfactorily interrelated to operate both units in accordance with a predetermined cycle of operations.

The storage means 25 has a three pole double throw switch 8| mounted upon the wall of its cabinet 29 in a suitable recess 52 therein for controlling the operation of the storage means 25 to independently shut the same oil when desired. A pilot light 83 may also be provided in the recess 52 to indicate to the operator that the storage means 25 is operatively connected to the control circuit for the automatic washing machine I8 and that the reservoir 38 is filled with water which is being heated.

The operation of the storage means 25 and its cooperative relationship with the automatic washing machine I0 will be best understood by reference to the control circuit which is diagrammatically represented in Figure 6 of the drawings.

The timer unit 65 which is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6 of the drawings is operated from the control knob I4 in the top panel I2 of the cabinet II for the automatic washing machine I8. The timer 65 advantageously includes a plurality of cam disks 56 to II, inclusive, mounted on a shaft 12 extending therethrough and actuated by a motor I8 in a step-bystep action at sixty second intervals. More specifically, the construction of the timer 65 is such fore, to cause the making and breaking of a plurality of electrical circuits each of which is connected through operating elements of both the automatic washing machine I0 and the storage means 25. This function of the timer affords a predetermined cycle of operations of a duration dictated within certain predetermined limits by the wishes of the operator in the setting of the timer control knob I4. A switch 88 embodying a disk mounted on the shaft 12 of the timer unit 65 and a pair of fixed contacts associated therewith enables the adjustment of the timer unit Xithin certain predetermined ranges of opera- The water temperature control switch 90 which is adapted to be manually set by the control knob I5 provided in the top panel I2 in the cabinet II of the automatic washing machine III comprises a rotatable shaft ill on which are mounted disks 92 and 93 for selectively securing a water supply of any of several different temperatures for the tub I! of the automatic washing machine. Thetemperature control switch 88 illustrated in diagrammatic form in Figure 6 of the drawings is adapted to provide water of three different temperatures depending upon the setting of the disks 92 and 93 with respect to the movable contact arms 84 and 95, respectively, associated therewith. With the setting of the control knob I5 and the shaft 8| shown, the temperature control switch 90 will actuate both solenoids VI and V2 of a mixer valve (not shown) to produce a mixed water supply by virtue of the contact of the movable contact arms 84 and 85 with their respective fixed contacts 95 and 91.

For a complete understanding of the operation of the apparatus of the present invention, it will not be necessary to trace through each of the individual operating circuits shown in Figure 6. The operation of the automatic washing machine is generally similar to that described in detail in our aforementioned application Serial No. 491,618. The timer control unit illustrated in Figure 6 differs from that of the application in question primarily in that it employs a separate cam disk to control the making and breaking of each individual circuit.

Let us assume for the purpose of the present explanation that the timer control knob I4 has been adjusted by the operator in the manner indicated in Figure 6 such that the contact arms I5, I8 and 19 associated with cam disks 51, 69 and ID of the timer unit 65 are in contact with their respective fixed contacts 83, 85 and 88. At the start of the operations, the operator also sets the control knob, I5 adjusting the temperature con- I trol mechanism 86 to provide water of a desired that the shaft 12 is advanced through an angle 1 of approximately 8 every sixty seconds.

All of the several cam disks 65 to II, inclusive,

are rotated by the shaft I2 in the direction inditemperature when the mixer valve is actuated in its proper sequence in the cycle of operations controlled by the timer unit 65. 'When the control knob I4 for the timer unit 65 is set to start the operation of the automatic washing machine I0, the switch GI on the storage means 25 is in its downward position as indicated by the full lines in Figure 6 so that each of its three poles will be in contact with the fixed contacts 98, 99 and I00.

With these conditions fulfilled, the circuits through the solenoids VI and V2 for the mixer valve unit supplying water to the tub I! are energized and water at a temperature provided in accordance with the setting of the temperature control switch 98 is introduced. The electrical current for energizing the solenoid VI is supplied from the main power conduit IIII through conductors I03 and I84 to one side of solenoid VI asse 7 being completed through conductor III on the other side of said solenoid, ,flxed contact 88 and movable contact arm 84 of the temperature control switch 80, conductor I08, arm I01 and fixed contact 88 of the switch 8|, conductor I08, fixed contact 83, movable contact arm 18, conductors I08 and H0, fixed contact III for the top float switch II2 of a fluid level control means II3, conductor I4, the switch 88, and conductor 8 with the main power conduit I02. The solenoid V2 is energized by electrical current supplied from main power conduit IOI, conductors I03 and I I8 to one side of said solenoid while the other side is connected with the other main power conduit I02, through conductor II1, fixed contact 81 and movable contact arm 85 of the temperature control switch 80, conductor I I8, fixed contact 88 and I -movable arm II8 of the switch 8I, conductor I20,

fixed contact 85, movable contact arm 18, conductors I2I and H0, fixed contact III for the top float switch II2, conductor II4, switch 88 and conductor II5.

As the tub I1 of the automatic washing machine I is filled, the bottom float switch I22 of the fluid level control means II3 will break contact with its fixed contact point I23. The top float II2 will break contact with its fixed contact III when the water has reached the desired level in thetub I1 and thereafter makes contact with the fixed contact I24. The breaking of the contact of the top float switch I I2 with its fixed contact III causes the deenergization of the solenoids VI and V2 of the mixer valve and no further water will be added to the tub I1 unless through some inadvertent occurrence the water level should fall therein.

After the tub I1 has been filled and if the operator desires to re-use the water into which suitable detergents have been introduced for the completion of the washing step, it is now necessary to trip the switch 8| of the storage means 25. The switch elements thereafter occupy the upper position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 6, so that the several arms I01, I I8 and I25 will thereafter be in contact with fixed contacts I28, I21 and I28, respectively.

The making of the contact between the top float switch II2 of the fluid level control means II3 with its fixed contact I24 completes the circuit through the solenoid A which serves to actuate the driving means for the agitator element of the automatic washing machine I0. At the same time, the circuits for the operation of the automatic washing machine motor I8 and the timer motor 13 are completed.

The circuit providing electrical current for the automatic washing machine motor I8 is completed from the main power conduit IOI through conductor I03 to one side of the motor and from the other side thereof to the main power conduit I02 through conductors I29, I30 and I3I with the fixed contact I24 for the top float switch II2,

conductor II4, switch 88 and conductor I I5. The I timer motor 13 is energized to rotate the shaft- 12 of the timer 85 by electrical current supplied from the main power conduit IOI through con,-

ductors I03 and I32 to one side of said motor tains contactwith its fixed contact 88 so as to energize the agitator solenoid A until the shaft 12 of the timer unit has rotated the cam 10 so as to cause the movable contact arm 18 to break contact with its fixed contact 88. In the meanwhile, the circuit through the agitator solenoid A is completed from the main power conduit IOI through conductors I03 and I33 to one side thereof while the other side is connected with the main power conduit I02 through conductor I34, fixed contact 88, movable contact arm 18, conductor III, fixed contact I24 for the top float switch 2-, conductor II4, switch 88 and conductor H5.

At the completion of the washing step, the shaft 12 of timer 85 will have rotated to the point at which the followers for the several movable contact arms 18, I8 and 18 will have traced the low points on their respective cams 81, 88 and 10 and the contact will be broken with fixed contacts 83, 85 and 88. At this point, the followers for the movable contact arms 18 and 80 will drop ofl into the low points on their respective earns 88 and 1| thereby establishing contact with fixed contacts 82 and 81 therefor. It will be apparent that the closing of the contact between the movable contact arm 15 and its fixed contact 82 atfords an alternate circuit for th automatic washing machine motor I8 and the timer motor 13 from the main power conduit IOI through their and from the other side to the main power conduit I02 through conductors I30 and I3I, fixed con-, tact I24 for the top float switch II2, conductor II4, switch 88 and conductor II5.

While the timer motor 13 continues to advance the shaft 12 of the timer unit 85, the cam tollower for the movable contact arm 18 is tracing a l w in o the can 1 a t reb mail;-

original connections with that conduit and through conductor I35, fixed contact 82, movable contact arm 18, conductors I38 and H0, fixed contact III for the top float switch II2 after the water level drops in tub I1, conductor II4, switch 88 and conductor H5 to the other main power conductor I02.

This auxiliary circuit for the washing machine motor IE8 and the timer motor 13 is necessary by reason of the fact that when the movable contact arm 88 makes contact with its fixed contact 81 an electrical circuit is completed through the p p solenoid P causing the pump to operate to withdraw the water from the tub I1 of the automatic washing machine I0. An electrical circuit is completed to one side of the pump solenoid P from the main power conduit IOI through conductors I03 and I31 and from the other side thereof through conductors I38 and I39, fixed contact 81, movable contact arm 80, conductor II4, switch 88 and conductor II5 with the other main power conductor I02.

Connected in as a part of the same circuit with the pump solenoid P is a similar solenoid B which operates the two-way valve 24 associated with the automatic washing machine I0 to cause the water passing through the pump 20 and into the discharge hose connection 23 to pass through the hose connection 28 and goose-neck 21 into the fiuid reservoir 33 of the storage means 25. The electrical circuit is completed through the solenoid B for the two-way valve 24 from the main power conduit I0l through conductor I03 to one side of said solenoid and from the other side thereof to the other main power conduit I02 through conductor I40 fixed contact I28 and contact arm I25 for the switch 8|, conductor I4I, contacts I42 and I43 associated with the fluid operated control mechanism 46 for the storage means 25 by virtue of the fact that the float 5| is in its lowermost position, conductors I38a (a branch of conductor I38) and I39, fixed contact 81, movable contact arm 80, conductor I I4, switch 88 and conductor I I5.

The pump 20 withdraws all of the water from the tub I1 except that which is retained by the 9 laundry in the tub to the reservoir ll of the storage means 25. The maximum water level within the fluid reservoir I53 required to raise the float 5| which actuates the fluid control mechanism 46 associated therewith is advantageously adapted to correspond substantially with the total quantity of the water admitted to the tub I I of the automatic washing machine III so that, since some of the water is retained by the laundry contained in the tub, the float 5| will not be raised sufliciently to break contact with fixed contacts I42 and I45 of its toggle switch 55 when all of the free water has been withdrawn from the tub I I by the pump 20. After the pump 20 has withdrawn the water from the tub II of the automatic washing machine I to the storage means 25, the lower float switch I22 of the fluid level control means II! will now make contact with its fixed contact I23 and an electrical circuit will be closed through the solenoid E which actuates the extractor for removing the water from the laundry in the automatic washing machine I0. The circuit is closed through the solenoid E from the main power conduit IOI through conductors I and I45 to one side of the solenoid and from the other side thereof through conductor I45, fixed contact I28 for the lower float switch I22, conductors I41, I30a and I39, fixed contact 01, movable contact arm 80, conductor II4, switch 05 and conductor II5 with the other main power conduit I02.

The operation of the extractor directly follows the conclusion of the operation of the pump 20 and continues until the timer motor I3, now operated through its alternate circuit, has succeeded by the rotation of the shaft I2 of the timer unit 65 in positioning the high point on the disk II in contact with the cam follower of the movable contact arm 80. At this point, the cam follower associated with the cam disk 50 reaches the low point thereon causing the movable contact arm 11 to make contact with its fixed contact 54 and closing the circuit through a portion of the mixer valve for supplying mixed water alone to the tub I! for the performance of the rinsing operation. The circuit is completed through the solenoid V2 of the mixer valve unit from the main power conduit IOI through conductors I 03 and I iii to one side of the solenoid and from the other side to the main power supply conductor I02 through conductors II! and I48, flxed contact 84, movable contact arm 11, conductor IIO, fixed contact I I I of the top float switch II2, conductor I I4, switch 88 and conductor II5.

After the tub ll of the automatic washing machine I0 is fllled with rinse water, the mixer valve solenoid V2 is deenergized by virtue of the fact that the top float switch II2 breaks contact with its fixed contact II I when the water reaches the proper level in the tub. The agitator will once again be operated through the energizing of solenoid A. The solenoid A is energized by the closing of the electrical circuit previously described since the cam I0 will have the second low point thereon positioned during this interval in registration with the cam follower on movable contact arm IS. The closing of flxed contact I24, by the top float switch II2 will immediately energize solenoid A. i

The duration .of the rinsing operation is determined by the aforementioned low point on the cam I0. When the movable contact arm I9 is caused to break contact with its flxed contact 00 by cam I0, the pump solenoid P will be energized in the manner-previously described to withdraw the rinse water from the tub II for the reason that the second low point thereon is then in registry with the cam follower for movable contact arm 80. Since the fluid reservoir 53' of the storage means 25 is, as we have seen, not quite filled on the completion of the previous draining operation, the two-way valve 24 will direct a portion of the rinse water to said fluid reservoir until it becomes fllled to the proper level.

When the water in the reservoir 33 reaches the maximum fluid level, the float 5| of the fluid operated control mechanism 46 shifts the arm 40 about its pivotal mounting and the link attached thereto causes the arm 51 of the toggle switch 58 to close the circuit energizing the heating element 41 and at the same time lighting the pilot light 53. These functions are accomplished by the closing of contacts I 49 and I50 of the toggle switch 58 which closes a direct circuit from the main power conductor I02 through conductors H5 and I5I, fixed contacts I49 and I50 of the toggle switch 50, and conductor I52 to one terminal of the heating element 41 while the other terminal is connected through conductors I53 and I54 directly with the main power conduit I M. The conductor I52 connected with the fixed contact I50 of the toggle switch 58 has a branch I55 which completes the circuit simultaneously with that of the heating element 41 through the pilot light 63 to conductor I54 so as to operate the light for the duration of the storage period.

At precisely the same instant that the float 5i closes the toggle switch 58 at the fixed contacts I49 and I50 thereof, the circuit including the fixed contact I42 and I42 of said toggle switch is the water to the drain. Thus, no further water will thereafter be delivered to the storage means 25.

The automatic washing machine I0 now continues to perform the remaining operations in the cycle for which the timer unit 65 is designed such, for example, as an additional extracting operation and any other similar steps, while the original supply of hot soapy water is temporarily stored for re-use in the next series of operations 55 to be performed by the automatic washing machine.

Following the completion of the entire cycle of operations, the automatic washing machine I0 is completely shut off until the operator removes 60 the laundered articles from the interior of the tub II, introduces another batch of laundry and resets the timer unit 65. It will be understood, however, that by virtue of the independence of the electrical circuit for energizing the pilot light 63 and the heating element 41 from the timer trol the heating element 41 of the storage means 25, in the event that the operator does not for some reason immediately attend the apparatus means 25 has reached a pr a-zoaaaa after the completion of its cycle of operation.

Thus. a suitable automatically operable switch or the like (not shown) which will react to the water temperature, for example, may be introduced into the circuit in series with the heating element 41 for shutting off the electrical current when the water in the fluid reservoir 31 of the storage etermined temperature thereby preventing overheating and consequent waste of electrical current.

when the operator resets the timer 85 for the next series of operations of the automatic washing machine Ill, the mixer valve associated therewith will not deliver water to the tub I! since it has been rendered inoperative by virtue of the fact that the switch 6| associated with the storage means 25 is in the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6. However, by reason of the fact that the flxed contact I28 makes contact with the arm 9 of the switch 8|, an electrical circuit is completed through the motor 42 for actuating the pump 4| of the storage means 25 to withdraw the water through .the outlet 38 in the base of the fluid reservoir 33.-

The circuit for operating the motor 42 is completed from the main power supply conduit l0l through the. conductors I54 and I56 to one side of said motor and from the other side thereof through conductor IS'L'flxed contact I26, movable contact arm H9, conductor I20, flxed contact 85 (which will once again be in contact with its movable contact arm 18 as shown), conductors l2! and H0, flxed contact Ill ofthe top float switch H2, conductor H4, switch 88 and conductor I I5 to the main power supply conduit I02.

The pump 4| will operate to drain all of the water out of the fluid reservoir 33 through the hose connection 43 and once again restore it to the tub ll of the automatic washing machine Ill for the repetition of the same series of operation as were carried out in the previously described cycle. At any time that the operator should desire to cause the soapy water to be discharged to the drain, it is only necessary to trip the switch 6| of the storage means at any interval in the cycle of operations prior to the functioning of the pump 20 on the automatic washing machine Ill. The switch arms I01, 9 and I 25 of the switch 6| will thereafter be in the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 of the drawings and the solenoid B for the twoway valve 24 will not be energized by the control circuit of the apparatus, andtherefore. it will direct all of the water in and passing through the tub I! of the automatic washing machine l0 through the hose connection 28 to the drain.

It will thus be apparent that the apparatus provides a highly efficient and completely automatic means for accomplishing a series of laundering operations with the use of a minimum quantity of hot water and detergents for cleansing the articles to be laundered.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an automatic washing machine having a main tub in which the cycle of operation is carried out, cycling means for controlling sequentially a series of operations of said machine, a

storage tank adjacent said tub, a pump disposed to remove liquid from said tub, a valve in the discharge line of said pump having a pair oi! passages, one leading to a drain and the 'other leading to said storage tank, said pump being energized by said cycling means to transfer liquid from said tub to said tank, a float valve disposed in said storage tank adapted to acutate said valve for diverting to the drain the flow of liquid being pumped to said storage tank when the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

2. In an automatic washing machine having a main tub in which the cycle of operation is carried out, cycling means for controlling sequentially a series of operations of said machine, a storage tank adjacent said tub, a first pump disposed to remove liquid from said tub, a valve in the discharge line of said pump having a pair of passages, one leading to a drain and the other leading to said storage tank, said pump being energized by said cycling means to transfer liquid ,from said tub to said tank, a float valve disposed in'said storage tank adapted to actuate said valve for diverting to the drain the flow oi fluid being pumped to said storage tank when the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level and a second pump adapted to transfer liquid from said storage tank to the main tub, said-second pump being energized by said cycling means automatically when the new washing cycle is begun.

3. In an automatic washing machine having a main tub in which the cycle of operation is carried out, cycling means for controlling sequen tially a series of operations of said machine, a storage tank adjacent said tub, a heating element disposed in said storage tank to maintain a desired temperature level of the fluid when the fluid is stored therein, a pump disposed to remove fluid from said tub, a valve in the discharge line of said pump having a pair of passages. one leading to a drain and the other to said storage tank, said pump being energized by said cycling means to transfer fluid from said tub to said tank, a float valve disposed in said storage tank adapted to actuate said valve for diverting to the drain the flow of fluid being pumped to said storage tank when the fluid in the tank reaches a predetermined level. said float also actuating the switch of said heater element. thereby to maincarried out, cycling means for controlling sequentially a series of operations of said machine, a storage tank adjacent said tub, aheating element disposed in said storage tank to maintain a desired temperature level of the fluid when the fluid is stored therein, a pump disposed to remove fluid from said tub, a valve in the discharge line of said pump having a pair of passages, one leading to a drain and the other to said storage tank, said pump being energized by said cycling means to transfer fluid from said tub to said tank, a float valve disposed in said storage tank adapted to actuate said valve for diverting to the drain the flow of fluid being pumped to said storage tank when the fluid in the tank reaches a predetermined level, said float also actuating the switch of said heater element, thereby to maintain the temperature of the fluid stored in said storage tank at an elevated tem- 76 perature, said float also energizing a signaling means for indicating the presence of fluid in said storage tank.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF'. LUTHER RINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Anders Feb. 29, 1916 Number Number Name Date Durdin Apr. 17, 1928 Bradley Feb. 18, 1930 Colton Apr. 29, 1930 Elfving Feb. 6, 1934 Marsh Dec. 4, 1934 Parker May 25, 1937 Steak Aug, 31, 1937 Altorfer June 30, 1942 Gluckman Dec. 1, 1942 Geldhof et a1 Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Mar. 16, 1933 

